Advice pls

[Tayhung]

Hi. I have a friend who went to GP yesterday and was told if you feel worse go to A&E. she was in a state, heart racing etc. He told her she may have Graves' disease ; anyway she is now in hospital. 3 hours no treatment with suspected thyroid storm and Graves, yet to be confirmed. Any advice she should be aware of. I am hypo and only just about know about that. Not familiar with hyper

[Clutter]

Muriel1234,

If your friend is having a thyroid storm she is in the best place to be looked after. I don't know what the treatment is but the hospital will tell your friend what she needs to do and look out for.

[Tayhung in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter, Panic over but, not great news. She has a small goiter and the docs can feel nodules on the thyroid. She has thought of herself as under par healthwise and only when her heart refused to slow did she seek help. She is home with meds and awaits scans etc.

[Clutter in reply to Tayhung]

Muriel1234,

It's possible that one of the nodules is secreting hormone and making her hyperthyroid. I imagine she's been given beta blockers to calm her heart and Carbimazole if thyroid levels are very high.

[Tayhung in reply to Clutter]

Yes, that is what they have given her said she will need to take for 18 mths? She asked my advice when she was in A&E but hyper is a foreign land to me... i appreciate your replying Clutter.

[Clutter in reply to Tayhung]

Muriel1234,

Your friend can join up and ask any questions she has or browse existing posts on Graves and hyperthyroidism.

Carbimazole blocks thyroid production. After 12-18 months patients may be weaned off to try for remission. If remission lasts 12 months it is deemed successful. If the patient has Graves antibodies (autoimmune hyperthyroidism) remission is successful in less than 50% of patients. Options are to resume Carbimazole or consider RAI ablatement or thyrodectomy which will cause hypothyroidism.

[Tayhung]

She is a bit in shock at the mo. But, I am sure she will be searching for info in the very near future. Thanks Clutter, you can always be relied on for sensible and compassionate response.